Ain't Sportsters great! Tim

 

Hard to call going from a Sportster to a BT an "upgrade " isn't it? What other bike model has a 50 year history? I can't think of any.

 

Thanks for the ride report. I'd always heard that the 1200 Sporty was the second fastest bike in the (stock) H-D lineup after the V-Rod. After riding one for about 400 miles, I believe it. I decided that I really didn't need all that power and so I bought an XL883. I, too, might have opted for a BT if money hadn't been an issue. However, years ago I had a BT and traded it in on an XLH883 which I put about 40k miles on and really liked. Those fond memories were partly responsible for for my new bike. I like the way it rides and handles and I'm just as happy that I didn't spend the bucks for any variety of BT. If I hit the lottery, that may be another matter, but I'd still keep the Sporty.

 

I consider my 883XLH to be a fine piece of machinery. It does all that I expect from city to highway riding, great handling on those curvy roads, doesn't leak any fluids, hasen't let me down at all and looks like a motorcycle should (to me anyway). I previously had a 750 Virago which wasn't a girls bike, a V-Star 650 which wasn't a girls bike and now my sporty which isn't a girls bike either.

 

I have had "heat" from some at work about my sporty being too small. Well, when we went for a ride I think I proved it was not too small. I have always been the passer, never the passee going up the hill/twistys. I have to stop at the top and wait.

I do not even have to push it. Just cruze on up. The only things that have passed me going up have been the Hyabusa, CBR's etc.

I have not had anyone give me crap since. Keep your BT's. Maybe a bagger for the long overnighters with the little lady, I will have to see. But no Victory, nice H-D.

 

I'm liking this thread more all the time!
Well said IL.
It's starting to rain...think I'll go for a ride on my girls bike

 

Let me get this straight - the Heritage is SLOW?! It's called your mind playing tricks. I've ridden Sporty's, Dyna's and Softails. A 1200 Sporty performance is about he same as a Big Twin Softail or Dyna or a Tourer even.

A Sporty and a Big Twin, Dyna or Softail are all roughly 13 second bikes. If the Heritage was a 96, it should actualy be faster than a Sporty 1200. You're trying to judge acceleration by "feel" but your mind is not in line with the documented acceleration of each.

 

I had a guy try to tell me a sportster is a girls bike once. He was riding at Suzuki Boulevard (800 CCs). I said ok, so you have no problem betting the keys for your bike for the keys to mine to the next stop light? He saw the 1200 on the ham can and wanted nothing to do with that. I cant even tell if those bikes are running or not at a stop light. I have heard crickets that are louder!

 

As a big twin owner, I feel compelled to chime in here. I have never considered a sporty a girls bike, in fact I used to own a 1986 XLCH 1100. I also wouldn't refer going from a sporty to a big twin as an upgrade. The sporty is a very capable machine, the drivetrain is stronger and faster than it's heavyweight brother. My only complaint was at 6ft 2inches tall, I was cramped on the sportster. Ride what you like and ride it like you stole it. For those that insist in telling you it's a girls bike,....................... race em for pinks!!!!

 

classsic

How come you didnt get a Vrod ???